"A unique being, an extraordinary man arises in this world,
for the benefit of the many, for the happiness of the many out
of compassion for the world, for the benefit, the good and
happiness of Gods and men. Who is this unique being? It is the
Exalted fully Enlightened One." ( Thathagatha ) Who is a
Buddha?

He is known as the highest perfection of man. Before attaining
Enlightenment to be a Buddha, one has to fulfil ten Perfections
(Paramita). These perfections are dhana (Charity) or the love of
giving for others' welfare, virtuous discipline (Seela),
renunciation of lay life, panna or wisdom, patience,
trustfulness, determination and courage, compassion and
equanimity. A Buddha is one who has released Himself from all
attachment and pleasures of the senses and is free of ignorance
of the Four Noble Truths. He is pure and one who by His own
effort attained Enlightenment.

The Buddha left us no written word, and lived in a land steeped
in spirituality and vedic religious tradition. His charismatic
personality, collected around Him a band of devoted disciples
who were in search of the Truth. As a Teacher of morality He
left His footprint on Indian soil. Sakyamuni Gautama Buddha was,
according to scholars of the Anglo-Buddhist school (i.e., Mrs.
Rhys Davids, Edward Conze and Marshall) an extraordinary man. He
was a social reformer who lived at a time when Vedic traditions
and ceremonialism were strong. He did not approve of animal
sacrifices which would be at the price of others suffering. He
decried the caste system. Several of His disciples were
considered to be of low castes. Suneetha was a scavenger, Radha
was a beggar, and Upali of the barber caste. They all entered
the Maha Sangha (priest-hood) Order. The Buddha's humanism
crossed many a racial and national barrier. He believed in the
oneness of man although we are born with Karmic inheritances (of
Samsara) which are highlighted indicating degrees of intellect,
degrees of human dynamism, varying riches, poverty and even
human handicaps at birth.

What is Buddhism?

All major religions excepting Buddhism bind one to believe in a
supreme Creator God, immortal soul, revelations, eternal heavens
and hells. The Theravada Buddha Dharma is free from such belief,
dogmas and theories. Hence it cannot strictly be called a
religion, but today due to Hindu influence and certain Hindu
practices such as poojas (offerings, vows) have crept into the
practice or observance of Buddhism. Buddhist dharma is
essentially a teaching of cause and effect (Hetupala Dharma).

The virtues of Dhana (charity), Seela (righteousness) and
Bhavana (meditation) promote the individual to follow 'The
Correct Path' on his Samsaric journey (Karmic journey) towards
the goal of Nibbana. This

dharma (philosophy) is based on the
Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eight-fold Path, the Law of
Dependent Origination, Karma and rebirth. In homage to the
Buddha during Vesak, millions flock to temples wearing white, to
observe Ata-sil (a day of absolute devotion to the observance of
Dhmma) in a religious atmosphere. They will all partake in a
vegetarian diet, a frugal meal, listen to discourses on the
dharma and meditate on the law of Anicca (impermanence of life).
Prof. Lakshmi Narasu, an Indian Buddhist scholar who lived 100
years ago had said, "Of Buddhism alone it can be said that it
has discarded all animism, all dogmatism, all sensuality, all
ascetism, all ritual, ceremonialism and consists of universal
compassion or maitri, charity, self-denial and love for all
life."

"All mankind is His shrine Seek Him hence forward in the good
and wise In happy thoughts and blissful emotions, In kind words
and sublime serenity. And in the rapture of the living deed,
There seek Him if you would not seek in vain, There is the
struggle for justice and right, In the sacrifice of self for all
In the joy and calm repose of the heart, Yes, and for ever in
the human mind ; Made better, and more beauteuns by this work."

Vesak - is a full moon day of great significance when
the thoughts of about three million people all over the world,
are focused on the noble figure of Sakyamuni Gautama Buddha and
His teachings (Dharma), as recorded by His disciples in Suttas.

It was on a full moon day in May 623 BC that, a noble Sakyan
Prince named Siddhartha Gautama, who was blessed at birth with
32 special marks such as the lotus and conchshells on His palms
and a further 108 marks on His two feet, was born at the Lumbini
Gardens (now located in Nepal) amidst a grove of Sal trees, all
in bloom. He preached His first sermon at the Deer Park in
Saranath in the open air, and about 45 years later, at the age
of eighty years passed away (Maha Parinibbana) again in the open
air amidst tall trees at Kasi, now known as Kasi-Nagar
(Kushinare) in India. It was also on a Vesak day in Sri Lanka,
centuries later, that King Dutugemunu began constructing the
Ruwanveli Maha Seya (largest stupa in Sri Lanka) at Anuradhapura.

This is article - originally published and donated by
http://www.maithri.com - Online Buddhist Bookstore. You may
republish this article in any form by crediting the source and
author. 2005 Copyright www.maithri.com

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